Chapter 124 You like Meng Huaiyan, don't you?

Chapter 124 You like Meng Huaiyan, don't you?

Meng Caiwei's eyes widened in disbelief: "R-really?"

Shen Tang withdrew her hand, looked out the window, and her thoughts immediately drifted back to when she first came to the Duke's mansion.

"Caiwei, do you remember asking me once, 'How come I, a daughter of an official, am so thin that I look like I haven't eaten properly?'"

Meng Caiwei lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then remembered.

At that time, Shen Tang was so thin that a gust of wind could blow her away. Although the Shen family did not hold high official positions, they were not so poor that they could not afford to eat, which is why she was puzzled.

"I remember, but you didn't answer me back then."

When Shen Tang first arrived at the Duke's Mansion, she was living under someone else's roof. Her inferiority complex clung to her like a leech, making her ashamed to even mention her own family. So she chose to remain silent.

She has now grown up enough to no longer dwell on that past.

The wound has now scabbed over and stopped bleeding, and she can easily speak of that past experience.

“My mother passed away a long time ago. My father didn’t care about me, and my stepmother was not good to me. She wanted me to call her mother, but I didn’t want to, so she wouldn’t give me food. That’s why I’m so thin.”

“When I was little, I had no friends. Every day, the first thing I thought about when I opened my eyes was how to solve the problem of food and clothing and how to survive under my stepmother. Those were really bad days.”

“It wasn’t until I came to the Duke’s mansion that I finally had enough to eat and wear. Apart from my aunt, you are the first person to be kind to me and show me goodwill. You are also the first true friend in my life.”

Shen Tang turned to look at her, a smile appearing on her lips: "Caiwei, I was really happy to be with you during those days, and I'm very grateful that you were willing to let me be your friend."

"It was an accident that I fell in love with your brother later. It wasn't a pretense of friendship or a way to use you to get close to your brother."

Meng Caiwei's heart clenched, and she stammered out another "I'm sorry."

Shen Tang shook her head: "That's why I said I never resented you, it's true, even though we later had a huge falling out and couldn't stand each other anymore."

"But you'll always be different in my heart. I'm so glad to hear you say 'I'm sorry' today. I accept your apology."

"Caiwei, I forgive you."

Upon hearing this, Meng Caiwei's lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face. She rushed forward and hugged Shen Tang tightly, her voice trembling.

"Shen Tang, thank you."

*

When Meng Huaiyan returned from his evening shift, he heard that Meng Caiwei had come today, and his expression immediately became somewhat tense.

"Did Caiwei make things difficult for you today?"

Shen Tang paused in her tea-drinking motion: "No, why are you so nervous?"

Meng Huaiyan was somewhat skeptical: "Really?"

He remembered that the two of them had never gotten along. Since his sister got married, she had become much more composed than before, but it was hard to say anything unpleasant to Shen Tang.

Shen Tang said helplessly, "Really? Why would I lie to you?"

Seeing that her expression didn't seem fake, Meng Huaiyan felt relieved: "Then what is she here for?"

"Just chatting."

"What could you possibly have to talk about with her?"

Mind your own business.

"?"

Meng Huaiyan felt a little annoyed. He cupped her face and gently bit her lips: "You are my wife, and Meng Caiwei is my younger sister. Is there anything between you that I can't hear?"

Shen Tang reached out and pushed his face away, rolling her eyes at him: "This is a secret between women, don't pry."

"......"

After Manman returned to the Meng residence, Shen Tang decided to have her sleep separately from her. In the first few days, Manman cried and fussed incessantly, and her eyes were always red when she fell asleep, which broke Shen Tang's heart.

But she's almost five years old, and it's time for her to sleep in a separate bed. Besides, there's now Meng Huaiyan, who's quite unrestrained in bed. She's genuinely afraid that Manman might see...

She was so ashamed that she had no choice but to make a tough decision.

Manman has adapted a bit these past few days and has finally stopped crying.

That night, Shen Tang lay in bed, tossing and turning, thinking of Su Yufu. Meng Huaiyan noticed and asked, "What's wrong?"

Shen Tang hesitated for a moment before asking, "What is your relationship with that Miss Su?"

Meng Huaiyan frowned and thought for a while: "Su Yufu? She's my aunt's daughter. I've only met her a few times, and we're not very familiar with each other. What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, just asking casually."

Meng Huaiyan, however, did not believe her claim that she was just asking casually, and asked somewhat nervously, "Did someone in the manor say something?"

“I have no relationship with her. In the five years you were away, I behaved myself and remained chaste, and I did not have any ambiguous relationship with other women.”

Seeing how nervous he was, Shen Tang smiled and said, "I believe you if you're just asking casually."

Seeing that Meng Huaiyan was still staring intently at her, Shen Tang leaned over and kissed him, comforting him, "I didn't lie to you, go to sleep."

Meng Huaiyan tightened his grip on her unconsciously: "Okay."

*

The next day was a beautiful day, and Shen Tang was flying a kite with Manman in the garden.

Suddenly, a somewhat familiar voice came from behind: "Sister Chen, what a coincidence."

When Shen Tang turned around and saw that it was Su Yufu, the smile on her lips instantly vanished.

Su Yufu, seemingly oblivious to her expression, greeted her warmly: "I've long heard that my cousin's wife is a beautiful and charming woman. After seeing her today, I can confirm that the rumors are indeed true."

Shen Tang smiled slightly and said aloofly, "I am not familiar with Miss Su. You don't need to call me sister. Just call me by my name."

"Calling me by my name is too formal. I hit it off with Sister Chen at first sight and would like to be her friend."

Shen Tang said coldly, "I don't lack friends, and I don't need Miss Su as a friend."

Su Yufu always presented herself as gentle, dignified, and virtuous, and few people could dislike her.

She hadn't expected Shen Tang to be so rude to her, not even bothering to maintain basic manners.

Su Yufu was a little embarrassed, and she almost couldn't maintain her kind smile.

"You seem quite hostile towards me? If I remember correctly, apart from that brief encounter last time, we haven't met before."

"I have no idea when I accidentally upset Sister Shen. There must be some misunderstanding. Please point it out so that I can correct it."

Looking at her humble and gentle demeanor, Shen Tang scoffed, "Miss Su, aren't you tired of pretending like this?"

Su Yufu's lips stiffened slightly, but she quickly regained her composure: "I don't understand what Sister Shen is talking about."

“Since you don’t understand, then I’ll be frank.” Shen Tang took a step closer to her, looking down at her coldly: “Miss Su, you hate me to the core, but on the surface you still have to pretend to be indifferent and be close to me.”

"To be able to greet people you dislike with a smile, without revealing any flaws, and to endure what ordinary people cannot, Miss Su truly impresses me."

Su Yufu's eyes trembled slightly, and her heart was instantly filled with shock. How could she have known?!

Su Yufu's hands clenched unconsciously as she tried to suppress the surging emotions in her heart and said calmly.

"Sister Chen, you've really misunderstood me. I didn't mean it that way."

Shen Tang scoffed lightly, looking at her with a half-smile. After a moment, she spoke mockingly.

"You like Meng Huaiyan, don't you?"